How to connect 3-screen PC quickly and effectively!

If you want to improve your work efficiency, work quickly and conveniently. Use the screen connection function on Windows. TipsMake will guide you how to use a PC with 3 independent  screens or multiple screens.

Why use a PC with 3 independent screens?

Using multiple screens at the same time will make your workspace much larger. In addition, when connecting multiple screens to the same computer, you save time moving the mouse cursor back and forth between screens, moving application windows back and forth between screens. A 3-screen PC gives you 2 additional screens next to the main screen, helping you update information, operate and handle multiple tasks at the same time more effectively.

Besides, you can compare information across multiple windows accurately and can multitask.

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How to use a 3-monitor PC system independently on Windows

Windows operating system with the feature of using 3 independent PC screens will help your work become faster and easier. You can drag and drop application windows back and forth between screens conveniently when installing according to the following steps:

Step 1: Connect the 3-screen PC port to the appropriate cable

1. Before installing multiple monitors on the device, make sure the connections include: power signal, video signal via VGA, HDMI or Display Port & cable linked to the monitor and laptop.

2. Use the port of the graphics card or motherboard to connect multiple monitors. In addition, you need to buy an additional graphics card, if the graphics card does not support three monitors.

3. If your PC monitor supports DisplayPort multi-streaming, you can connect multiple monitors using a DisplayPort cable.

Step 2: Configure multiple PC monitors

You can connect your monitors to any of the available video ports on your graphics card, but you can also connect them out of order. They will still work, but you may have trouble using your mouse or launching programs. Here's how to set up and configure a triple-monitor PC and triple-monitor laptop :

1. Press the Windows + P key combination to open the Display Project menu.

2. Select a new Display mode from the given list:

1. PC screen only – Use only the main screen.
2. Duplicate - Windows will display the same image on all monitors.
3. Extend – Multiple monitors work together and create a larger screen, this is the main setup used for 3 monitor PC rigs and 3 monitor laptops.
4. Second screen only – The only screen that will be used is the second screen.

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3. Extend and set up display options on Windows 10.

Step 3: Rearrange 3 PC screens in Display Settings

Follow the mentioned steps to arrange how PC monitors work:

1. Press Windows key + I to open Windows Settings.

2. Then, select System Settings , as shown.

3. If there is no Customize your display option, click the Detect button in the Multiple displays section to detect other displays.

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4. Rearrange the screens on the screen, drag and drop the rectangular boxes in the Customize your desktop section.

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5. Click Apply to save these changes.

Now, Windows 10 will maintain the physical arrangement that allows you to work on multiple screens and run programs. Here's how to quickly set up a 3-screen laptop . 

Step 4: Customize Taskbar and 3-screen PC wallpaper

* Personalize Taskbar for each PC

1. Press Windows key + D at the same time to go to the desktop

2. Then right-click on the empty space on the Desktop and click Personalize

3. Select Taskbar in the left pane.

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4. In the Multiple displays section, and enable the option Show taskbar on all displays.

* Customize wallpaper for each PC screen

1. Navigate to Desktop > Personalize

2. Click Background from the left pane and select Slideshow under Background.

3. Click Browse in Choose albums for your slideshows.

4. Set the Change picture every option to the time period after which new pictures will be displayed from the selected album.

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5. Click the Toggle On Shuffle option 

6. Under Choose a fit , select Fill.

Step 5: Adjust Display Scale & Layout for 3-screen PC

You may need to adjust the scale, resolution, and orientation for each monitor of your 3-monitor PC as follows:

* Set System Scale

1. Click Settings > System 

2. Click the appropriate Scale option from the Change the size of text, apps, and other items drop-down menu.

3. Repeat the steps performed to adjust the scaling settings on additional displays.

* Custom Scaling

1. Select Display monitor and go to Settings > System

2. Click Advanced scaling settings from the Scale and layout section.

3. Set the size between 100% – 500% in the highlighted Custom scaling section. For those who sit close, have weak eyes or use a laptop with 3 small screens , set it to 125% or 150%

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4. Click Apply to apply the changes.

5. Sign out of your account and sign back in to check for update settings after you have completed the steps you have taken.

6. If the new scaling configuration is not to your liking, repeat the process with a different number until you find one that works for you.

* Set the correct resolution

1. Select the Display screen you want to change then go to Settings > System 

2. Click the Display resolution drop-down menu in the Scale and layout section to select the pixel resolution appropriate for your 3-monitor PC.

3. Repeat the above steps to adjust the resolution on the remaining displays.

* Set the correct orientation

1. Click Display & navigate to Settings > System 

2. Select a mode from the Display orientation drop-down menu in the Scale and layout section.

Step 6: Select Multi-Monitor View for PC

Follow the given steps on how to setup 3 monitor PC and set the view:

1. Go to Settings > System

2. Select the Display monitor as desired in the Display section 

3. Then, click the drop-down option under Multiple displays to select the appropriate view:

1. Duplicate desktop – Identical PC displayed on both screens.
2. Extend – The main screen is extended onto the secondary screen.
3. Disconnect this display – Turn off the selected PC display.

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4. Repeat the above steps to adjust the Display mode on the remaining PC monitors.

Step 7: Manage Advanced Display Settings for 3-monitor PC

You may need to make precise adjustments to the color and eliminate screen flicker as explained in this section.

* Set custom color profile

1. Launch System Settings by following steps 1-2 of Method 3 .

2. Here, click Advanced display settings.

3. Click Display adapter properties for Display 1.

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4. Click Color Management… in the Color Management tab 

5. On the Devices tab, click Display from the Devices drop-down list.

6. Click the box titled Use my settings for this device.

7. Click the Add… button. 

8. Click the Browse. button on the Associate Color Profile screen to find a new color profile.

9. Navigate to the folder where the ICC Profile, Device Color Profile, or Device Model Profile is stored. Then, click Add, shown highlighted below.

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10. Click OK then select Close to exit all screens.

11. Repeat steps 6 – 11 to create custom configurations for the remaining screens of the 3-monitor PC.

Step 8: Change the refresh rate of your 3-monitor PC setup

1. Click Settings > System > Advanced display settings > Display Adapter Properties for display 1 as shown in Step 7

2. Then switch to the Monitor tab.

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3. Select the drop-down menu in Monitor Settings to select the desired screen refresh rate.

4. Click Apply > OK to save the changes.

5. Follow the same steps to adjust the screen refresh rate on the remaining PC monitors.

Step 9: Show Taskbar on 3-screen PC

Here's how to set up a 3-monitor PC with the Taskbar displayed on each monitor:

1. On Desktop > Personalize as described.

2. Click Taskbar from the left pane.

3. Click the Show taskbar on all displays toggle switch in the Multiple displays section.

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4. Use the Show Taskbar buttons drop-down box to select where buttons for running programs will appear on the Taskbar. 

Here's how to set up a 3-monitor PC with the Taskbar displayed on each monitor. You can also customize the Taskbar by pinning additional programs or keep it simple.

Conclude

Above, TipsMake has given detailed instructions on how to use a PC with 3 independent screens, which many users often wonder about. Apply this effective method immediately to best support your work and bring higher efficiency!

Lesley Montoya

Update 16 January 2025